2016 Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne, March 18-20

[godlameroso]

Me thinks if track temperature gets into the 35C range the ones with extra mediums are going to be sitting pretty.

[Juzh]

Meanwhile, if anyone is interested in live timing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBGhsT-_3fM

[Vasconia]

Rain now being forecast for Friday and Saturday. Weather here changes faster than people change clothes, but at the very least I will interpret this as an elevated chance of rain and lower temperatures.

I guess the chances of SS usage have diminished.

It would be great but I would prefer a wet Sunday. Rain on Friday only destroys all the work the teams need to do.

[Earnard Beccelstone]

I'm very much looking forward to the start of the season. Melbourne is one of my favourite tracks - not a great actual race track given the dearth of overtaking opportunities, but in sims and such it always has such a lovely rhythm and flow to it that I can't help but enjoy it.

The big questions for me this season will be:

Have Ferrari managed to reduce or even close the gap to Mercedes?

Will Williams be able to be the 'best of the rest' and retain its third place?

How will Red Bull's decision to step away from its relationship with Renault affect their performance?

Will McLaren take a half step or a full step forward this year, or is the second year of the McHonda relationship going to be another damp squib?

Will Haas be battling with Manor (and/or Sauber and Reanult) at the back of the field, or will they be pressuring the top 10 for points?

How will the mid-field scrap develop? - Toro Rosso and Force India looked mighty quick during testing. Will they be pushing the top five this year?

How is Renault's return as a full works team going to pan out?

Will Manor be able to pick up some points this year?

[godlameroso]

Target lap is going to be ~1:33-32, I'll be surprised if anyone manages to do a 29 in the race. Qualifying is going to be in the 25's.

[djos]

It would be great but I would prefer a wet Sunday. Rain on Friday only destroys all the work the teams need to do.

Melbourne weather is extremely changeable atm, anything is possible!

PS, today is a beautiful sunny day and going to be 25c.

[Vasconia]

It would be great but I would prefer a wet Sunday. Rain on Friday only destroys all the work the teams need to do.

Melbourne weather is extremely changeable atm, anything is possible!

PS, today is a beautiful sunny day and going to be 25c.

Yeah, it reminds the weather we have here haha. By the way, we also have a sunny day today.

As it has been said Melbourne is a great track despiste the few chances of overtaking. The race is too early for me(6am) but I will watch it later.

[djos]

Just to make life interesting, we are going to get a nice sunny day tomorrow and 32c - should be very pleasant.

Then rain on Thursday and Friday and about 20c both days.

[Shrieker]

Any preparation photos from the track site ?

[djos]

Any preparation photos from the track site ?

I can see a chunk of the track from my office but the pics aren't very interesting.

Thursday last week (it was very tropical that day):

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/071fu22hbsfj ... aCW2IWWR8a

You can just see the Pirelli signs around the lake.

[Shrieker]

Gosh thanks. Your office has a great view btw

[djos]

Gosh thanks. Your office has a great view btw

Cheers, I wonder what sort of view I'll have at the end of the week. I doubt I'll be able to see much Tbh.

[djos]

Looking a bit more complete today:

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/kc7fl6qznhsh ... Er8gRPxasa

[ME4ME]

Target lap is going to be ~1:33-32, I'll be surprised if anyone manages to do a 29 in the race. Qualifying is going to be in the 25's.

I'm expecting pole to be in the high 1:23's if the weather isn't too bad.

[FLuidd]

Vettel pole and win